tle to discuss,
after all. Schabelitz was so quietly certain, Bauer so triumphantly
proud.

Said Schabelitz, "Wolfsohn, of course, receives ten dollars a lesson
ordinarily."

"Ten dollars!"

"But a pupil like Theodore is in the nature of an investment," Bauer
hastened to explain. "An advertisement. After hearing him play, and
after what Schabelitz here will have to say for him, Wolfsohn will
certainly give Theodore lessons for nothing, or next to nothing. You
remember"--proudly--"I offered to teach him without charge, but you
would not have it."

Schabelitz smote his friend sharply on the shoulder "The true musician!
Oh, Bauer, Bauer! That you should bury yourself in this----"

But Bauer stopped him with a gesture. "Mrs. Brandeis is a busy woman.
And as she says, this thing needs thinking over."

"After all," said Mrs. Brandeis, "there isn't much to think about. I
know just where I stand. It's a case of mathematics, that's all. This
business of mine is just beginning to pay. From now on I shall be able
to save something every year. It might be enough to cover his musical
education. It would mean that Fanny--my daughter--and I would have to
give up everything. For myself, I should be only too happy, too proud.
But it doesn't seem fair to her. After all, a girl----"

"It isn't fair," broke in Schabelitz. "It isn't fair. But that is the
way of genius. It never is fair. It takes, and takes, and takes. I know.
My mother could tell you, if she were alive. She sold the little farm,
and my sisters gave up their dowries, and with them their hopes of
marriage, and they lived on bread and cabbage. That was not to pay for
my lessons. They never could have done that. It was only to send me to
Moscow. We were very poor. They must have starved. I have come to know,
since, that it was not worth it. That nothing could be worth it."

"But it was worth it. Your mother would do it all over again, if she had
the chance. That's what we're for."

Bauer pulled out his watch and uttered a horrified exclamation. "Himmel!
Four o'clock! And I have a pupil at four." He turned hastily to Mrs.
Brandeis. "I am giving a little supper in my studio after the concert
to-night."

"Oh, Gott!" groaned Schabelitz.

"It is in honor of Schabelitz here. You see how overcome he is. Will you
let me bring Theodore back with me after the concert? There will be some
music, and perhaps he will play for us."

Schabelitz bent again in his queer little fo